New Video Now Available: Preparing an NIH Budget from an Administrator’s Perspective

Watch the video to gain actionable insights into how budgeting functions as a strategic component of research success, not just an administrative requirement.

Successful grant applications depend on more than strong science. They require budgets that are accurate, compliant, and aligned with program intent. In this newly released video, Maggie Spencer, a senior research administrator at the University of Iowa, shares a practical, systems-level perspective on preparing NIH budgets across the full research lifecycle.

Drawing on more than a decade of experience supporting investigators, Spencer walks through the roles research administrators play during research development, pre-award preparation, and post-award management. She highlights common budgeting pitfalls, explains how allowable and allocable costs are evaluated under federal guidance, and underscores why early collaboration with research administrators is especially critical for constrained RFAs and complex, multi-site projects.

This talk is particularly valuable for investigators seeking to strengthen proposal feasibility, streamline administrative workflows, and reduce delays during both submission and post-award execution.